Do I Like It?

In this episode of Do I Like It, let us talk about some of the best actor turned directors in Hindi cinema. Recently, the trailer of Randeep Hooda's directorial debut 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' dropped. While experts are talking about the historical authenticity and political ramifications of the film, Prateek Lidhoo goes down memory lane and discusses some other actors who sat behind the camera to tell their stories.

From sentimental nostalgia watches to hard-hitting political dramas, the Hindi film industry is filled with cinematic multitaskers. Listen till the end!

In this episode of 'Do I Like It', Prateek Lidhoo talks about the Kiran Rao directed 'Laapataa Ladies', starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastava. Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, the film talks about the chaos that ensues after brides get exchanged in a comedy of errors.

Prateek dives deep into the screenplay of the film, and tries to break down what decisions led to this film working over other 'small-town' films, which don't generate as much excitement as their starting premise. From nuanced character development to a meticulous approach of setups and payoffs, 'Laapataa Ladies' is a masterclass in cinematic writing. 

Writer and comedian Varun Grover released his directorial debut film 'All India Rank' on 23 February 2024. Amid praise for its tender storytelling and a strong emotional core, the film is getting inevitably compared to other "competitive exam films" like Vidhu Vinod Chopra's '12th Fail', and TVF's hit web series 'Kota Factory'.

In this episode of 'Do I Like It', Prateek Lidhoo dives deep into this genre of Indian cinema, and tries to understand what makes 'All India Rank' different. Listen till the end! 

Hold onto your acceptance speeches! On this episode of 'Do I Like It', Prateek Lidhoo makes his predictions for the 2024 Oscars, and it looks like Oppenheimer might just take home EVERY major award! Is this a historic clean sweep in the making, or are we way off base? Watch and find out!

From Margot Robbie's snub for Best Actress to the Cillian Murphy v. Bradley Cooper fight for Best Actor, this year's Academy Awards have cinephiles worldwide on the edge of their seats. What are your picks for the awards? Share them in the comments below!

Is Biryani anti-Hindu?

Should vegetarians be forced to eat chicken?

Did Ram actually eat meat?

I never thought a film would ever take me on that trail of thought. In this episode of ‘Do I Like It’, let’s talk about Nayanthara's Tamil film ‘Annapoorani’ and the controversy that made Zee Studios and Netflix take the film down days after its online release.

The film sparked controversy and faced strong criticism from right-wing groups and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which argued that it offended the religious sensitivities of Hindus and promoted ‘love jihad’. Let us dig deep into some scenes from the film, and try to understand if they warranted any criticism in the first place.

Forget Drake and The Beatles - meet Talat Mahmood, the original Indian heartthrob who pioneered world tours before they were cool. His grandniece, Sahar Zaman, joins me on this episode of 'Do I Like It', on a journey through this unsung legend's life and music.

Sahar, through her book 'Talat Mahmood: The Definitive Biography', takes us down memory lane to talk about Talat's life before entering Bollywood, his independent ghazal music career, the onset of new musical influences, and so much more.

Discover how Talat's ghazals weave through timeless love stories while eerily echoing current music trends. From heartbreak anthems to genre-bending ghazals, prepare to go on a behind-the-scenes journey behind the tunes. Watch till the end.

Yes! It’s that time of the year when I bombard the internet with my spiciest opinions, my hot takes, and some views that’ll set the comments section on fire.

Looking back at 2023, I had some vastly different takes when compared to what I saw on the internet. Takes where I was like, “Did I even watch the same film as everyone else?” So, let’s go ahead and talk about them.

Let us go on a trip down this year's best cinematic gems. 2023 was a feast of some mind-blowing movies! Join Prateek as he dives into the films that blew his mind, both on the global stage and closer to home in Bollywood.

From Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer', to Vidhu Vinod Chopra's ode to purer times, '12th Fail', this list is bound to add some new recommendations to your year-end watching list. Watch till the end!

Shah Rukh Khan is back, and this time he might be a 'Dunki' trying to escape India for London! But can Rajkumar Hirani, the director of blockbusters like 3 Idiots and PK, recapture the same wit, heart, and social commentary in this new trailer?

Join me as I dive deep into the Dunki trailer, analyzing Hirani's signature style, Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal's characters, and the music. Watch till the end!

Would my review be different if I was not a man?

Should artists always take a moralistic stance while creating complex characters or conflicts?

Can you learn good things from a bad film?

Am I a closet Sandeep Reddy Vanga stan?

These are some questions that came to mind after watching Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna’s Animal, directed, written, and edited by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

In this episode of Do I Like It, Prateek talks about what he liked, what he did not like, and why you should not like this revenge saga! Watch till the end.

After the sleeper hit 'Kantara' hit theatres in 2022, Rishab Shetty comes back with a prequel 'Kantara Chapter 1'. The first look was released with Shetty playing a trident-carrying, firey-eyed character, presumably set during the Kadamba Dynasty.

The internet has been roaring with theories as to what the actual character is. Some say that it is Lord Shiva, others say that it is the deity Panjurli, while others deduce that it might be Parshuram.

While I am excited about the prequel, I also have my fair share of doubts. Listen as I discuss what I like, and what made me a little scared.

In this episode of Do I Like It, rapper Naezy opens up about his life after the hit film 'Gully Boy', and how he feels that his story wasn't properly told. He also talks about a new phase of his life where he's working on his mental health, new music, and his state of mind.

He also sheds light on the current independent hip-hop scene and how he feels a responsibility towards the younger crop of rappers. Watch till the end. 

Desi Hip-Hop's new wave is here! In this episode of Do I Like It, we sit down with rappers DRV and Boyblanck and break down their latest collab album 'Multani Milli'. They also talk about their journey navigating the streets of Bollywood, with projects like Shahid Kapoor's 'Farzi', 'Class', and the awaited 'Kennedy', Anurag Kashyap's next directorial feature.

Listen until the end as the duo reacts to their album and analyze their music. 

Writer-director Jayant Digambar Somalkar’s debut Marathi feature film Sthal (A Match) opens with a dream sequence. Savita, a young girl in her early 20s, sits with 10 other women in a small room and interviews a potential suitor. She is assertive, the women around her are giggling, and they are free.

Simple, yet far-fetching, the dream remains just that. And it sets the tone for the film ahead. Sthal is the only Indian film to have been selected for the festival’s Discovery Programme this year. 

Guns and Gulaabs is Raj and DK's latest offering on Netflix. This series has multiple parallel plot lines, whimsical characters, an illegal opium business; basically everything a quintessential gangster comedy would have.

But, does it hit the mark? To know what worked and didn't work for me, tune in to this review!

The Indian freedom struggle has always been a time of great dramatic value for artists. From love stories to action-packed thrillers, Indian filmmakers have explored this period with a great sense of detail and historicity.

In this episode of Do I Like It, Prateek lists his favorite Hindi films that were set during the Indian independence struggle and the subsequent partition.

Listen till the end! 

If you've seen Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, you would know why it is so unlike yet the very definition of a Karan Johar film. On this episode of Do I Like It, Prateek Lidhoo dissects Karan Johar's directorial style, recurring themes and their evolution over the years.

Delving into the narrative, characterization, and visual aesthetics, Prateek uncovers the underlying themes and emotions that make this movie stand out. From the characterisation to the intricately woven subplots, he examines how RRKPK keeps up with the times without losing the old-school KJo magic.

Tune in for more!

In this exciting episode, we delve into historic clashes between blockbuster films released on the same day. From the iconic clash of 'Lagaan' and 'Gadar' to the intense competition between 'Saawariya' and 'Om Shanti Om,' we explore the box office impact and cultural significance of these clashes.

Join us as we discuss the intriguing stories behind these clashes and the unforgettable movies that emerged as winners. Don't miss out on this fascinating journey through Bollywood history!

The podcast is a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt on his 98th Birthday. Though his genus is hard to expound in a limited time capsule, yet Documentary Filmmaker-Writer Deepak Mahaan defines Guru Dutt as a cinematic painter who created poetic philosophies on canvas of film. And while he excelled as a director in all genres, his song picturisations were breathtaking lessons in cinematic metaphors. 

Lust Stories 2, streaming on Netflix, is the second edition of the anthology that explores sexuality and lust in ways unconventional to Indian mainstream filmmaking. This edition features 4 films directed by R Balki, Konkana Sen Sharma, Sujoy Ghosh and Amit Sharma. 

Tune into this episode of Do I Like It where Pratikshya Mishra breaks down the evolution of female desire on screen.